Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is confident it has a “valid” case as it prepares to file an appeal to the Federation Equestre International (FEI) Tribunal by today regarding the debacle at the European Championships that saw Cian O’Connor impeded in his round and Ireland denied a place in next year’s Olympics.

Ireland’s dominance of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show came to end in yesterday’s feature €200,000 Longines Grand Prix, courtesy of American Kent Farrington.

Fraser Duffy was reasonably satisfied with his dressage on Fernhill Revelation in the CCI three-star class on the opening day of Tattersalls International Horse Trials yesterday, writes John Tynan.

Cian O’Connor has been anonymous by his own standards for the past few months, but he gave a powerful reminder of his intent last weekend, when winning the World Cup qualifier at Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida, writes John Tynan.

Another weekend, another $1m show jumping prizepot in the US and Kevin Babington is not without confidence.

Show jumper Bertram Allen earned the keys to a car yesterday as he continued his drive to break into World top-10 by winning the grand prix at Dortmund, Germany.

Kevin Babington rounded off a brilliant weekend for Irish show jumping when second in the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix in Florida, last night.

Equestrian: US-based riders get the chance to show off their horsepower to Ireland manager Robert Splaine in today’s $200,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup opener in Ocala, Florida, though Kevin Babington got in early last night when winning the 1.50m grand prix qualifier on Mark Q.

Irish riders failed to make an impression in Saturday’s $372,000 World Cup grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, but Darragh Kenny and Conor Swail scored a couple of consolation prizes in the run-up.

Show jumper Conor Swail notched up his third win in a fortnight in Florida on Sunday, taking top prize in the $34,000 Suncast Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Irish show jumpers drove to victory across Europe at the weekend, with Jessica Kurten in the driving seat when claiming a €40,000 Subaru car in the grand prix in Odense, Copenhagen.

Show jumper Kevin Babington spent a brief spell in a water jump on Sunday, but he made sure it didn’t dampen his day as he went on to win the $250,000 Hampton Classic in New York.

Show jumper Cian O’Connor was “pretty happy” after achieving his first grand prix placing with Carolus Z at the $8m FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Shane Sweetnam may have offloaded his top ride last year, but that does not mean he is ready to relinquish his position as a stalwart of the Irish team.

Show jumper Denis Lynch is almost assured of a place in the Rolex World Cup final following his second place in the qualifier in Leipzig yesterday.

Any decision by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) to delay until after the Olympics the publication of the review into last year’s poor performance at the European Championships would be flawed.

Three Irish riders were in the prize money at last night's World Cup Grand Prix in Wellington, Florida, but it was Britain's Scott Brash who took victory with Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof in an 11-horse jump off.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine and his high-performance committee have compiled selection criteria to determine who will represent Ireland at the Olympics, following a request from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Sligo show jumper Darragh Kerins was delighted with his second place in Saturday night’s $125,000 World Cup contest in Florida, considering the mare Lisona returned to action just three weeks ago after a year-and-a-half layoff.

WITH another breeding season in the offing, Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh has reiterated calls for the greater use of thoroughbred blood.

WITH another breeding season in the offing, Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh has reiterated calls for the greater use of thoroughbred blood.

WITH €475,000 on offer in tomorrow night’s Global Champions Tour opener in Doha, riders will not be lacking in incentive.

US-BASED show jumpers Shane Sweetnam and Kevin Babington are among a five-man squad named yesterday for next week’s Meydan Nations Cup Series opener in La Baule, France.

FIRST-ROUND clears from Kevin Babington and Shane Sweetnam helped Ireland finish joint second in the USA Nations Cup in Florida on Friday night, just one fault separating them from winners Canada.

HORSE SPORT IRELAND is “conscious 2009 will be a difficult year for the industry and it will be doing its best to provide support” as the global economic downturn hits home.

IF experience can buy one thing, it is the ability to deal with success and failure... and Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine has more than enough experience to handle the proverbial two sides of the same coin.

After a week of assessment in Wellington, Florida, Irish Show Jumping team manager Robert Splaine today announced his team to compete in the US Nations' Cup on Friday, March 7.

DOUBLE European show-jumping gold medallist Peter Charles has opted to give up riding for Ireland and to put his name for forward for the British squad.

COMMANDANT John Ledingham will not be applying for the newly-advertised position of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team.

IN Friday’s equestrian column, in an interview with top Irish show jumper Kevin Babington, it was stated that: “Babington said he could see no reason why Splaine should be chef d’equipe” to the Irish team.

KEVIN BABINGTON says he would welcome the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) taking over selection of the senior show jumping team from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

PERHAPS it was an early celebration ahead of St Patrick’s Day, but Ireland’s show jumpers ensured Florida was green last Sunday when winning the first Samsung Nations Cup of the season.

IRELAND'S show jumping chef d'equipe designate Eddie Macken answered his detractors in emphatic fashion at the weekend as he led a makeshift team to victory in the Nations Cup at Wellington, Florida.

KEVIN BABINGTON is reserving his firepower until Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Florida as he bids to book his ticket for the final.

KEVIN BABINGTON pauses — he is reluctant to talk about Cian O’Connor.

John Tynan

IRELAND’S Nations Cup campaign could be without the services of Kevin Babington this season, transport costs for Carling King threatening his participation.

THE annual Canon Hayes National Sports Awards in Tipperary will incorporate a new category this year in memory of the late international rugby player and coach, Mick Doyle.

Cian O’Connor made Irish eyes smile all over Athens last night after clinching Ireland’s first gold medal of the Olympics on his Games debut, but then revealed he could lose the horse he won it on.

Showjumper Cian O’Connor tonight won the first gold medal for the Irish team at the Athens Olympics.

Cian O'Connor, the grandson of Irish rugby great Dr Karl Mullen, choked back the tears as Amhran na bhFiann rang out around the Markopoulo centre tonight, singling the end of Ireland's Athens medal drought.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has congratulated Ireland's Cian O'Connor on winning the gold medal for individual showjumping at the Olympic Games in Athens this evening.

Cian O’Connor crowned a superb Olympic debut tonight by clinching the Ireland’s first gold medal of the Athens Olympics with victory in the individual show jumping final.